TTSAL Halloween 2022

 

Today is the opening day for the second Halloween album in Topsy Turvy SAL on Facebook - in fact it is the 2021 album extended so all the Halloween photos are together.

As well as joining the TT SAL on Facebook, you can post about your stitching on your own blog or join in with the members of Needlecraft Haven.

This design was a quick stitch, the ribbon is recycled from a bag of mini Welsh cakes we were given at a Wedding Fair we went to with our daughter and fiancé.

I'm loving the Topsy Turvy SAL, my ornament box is getting so full I'll need another one soon.

Thank you Ma'am for everything

I, like many, have found the last two weeks unbelievable. It is still find it hard to believe that Queen Elizabeth II is no longer our Monarch. I have served her all my life from the age of seven as a Brownie, then as a Guide, and currently as a Scouter for more than 40 years. 

We all have times to remember, stories to tell: I remember standing by Nuneaton train station waiting to see her, our daughter a baby in my arms and our son a toddler sitting high up on my late father's shoulders.

I remember being at Buckingham Palace when my step-dad received his MBE, mum and I seated in the Ballroom just five rows from The Queen, it was a very surreal occasion.

I also remember sitting in St George's Chapel with my late Dad on St George Day when he received the Silver Acorn for his service to Scouting, and later lining the quadrangle at Windsor Castle to watch the Queen give awards to our amazing young members. 

Yesterday Hubby and I watched all the coverage of Her Majesty's State Funeral, my eyes with continuous tears and my heart heavy. It was a poignant day, the perfect tribute to a wonderful lady who dedicated her life to serve us. 

These are a few special moments:

The precision and grace of all those on parade, the absolute astounding job of the pallbearers from Queen's Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and the Royal Family's dignity and stature whilst obviously in greatest grief made me proud to be British... I felt very humbled. 

Over these difficult days I have been touched by how King Charles III has managed to carry out all that has been required of him: one moment a grieving son, the next the King touring our country's four Parliaments. 

Princess Anne has hardly left her mother's side, escorting her on all journeys. I sincerely hope our Royal Family now have time for themselves and aftering leading us in our grief can grieve in peace for their personal loss, a dearly loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Hubby and I paid tribute to Her Majesty by beginning the day with marmalade on toast. Later, when the days events had come to a close, we enjoyed Coronation Chicken followed by my slightly adjusted Platinum Trifle accompanied by a glass of Regent wine.

A day we will never forget: an historic day when we said a fond farewell to our Queen and raised a glass of Royal Lochnagar to our new King

God bless the Queen - God save the King

Gifted Gorgeousness in September

 

Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted each month by the lovely Jo at Serendipitous Stitching. GG, on the 15th of each month, is when we share our latest gifts. These can be gifts given or received, or any item made using fabric, threads, buttons, ribbon, chart, backing fabric that has been gifted. If you visit Jo's blog you'll find the links to everyone's Gifted Gorgeousness posts.

My gifts this month were received and given for Needlecraft Haven's Summer Exchange. The exchange was to stitch a pincushion on the theme of summer. 

My pincushion was stitched by Julie, she stitched a beautiful summer rose to remind me of the rose petals we collected for our daughter's wedding. Julie, along with our local friends, saved and dried rose petals ready to use as confetti. We all wrote on little hearts and I put the petals in jars in a hamper. Julie's rose pincushion will certainly be a reminder of our rose collecting, thank you Julie.

My gift is the pincushion I made for Gill. I have made a few box pincushion using a Pandora box. I love upcycling, especially covering boxes. I chose this cute hedgehog chasing a butterfly as it made me think of carefree summer days. 

I'm currently working on a very special gift, it needs to be finished by early October so my needle needs to fly!

Fully Finished in September

 

Rachel, Ten Hour Stitcher, is the lovely host of Fully Finished Objects, an opportunity for us to show and tell about the crafty items we have completely finished. Thanks Rachel, your FFO prompt each month really helps me finish my projects instead of them still in my project folders.

I am a day late posting as yesterday was my birthday. We're in Cardiff having a few days with our daughter and fiancè; our son and his girlfriend have joined us too so it's been lovely to all be together.

My first finish is another box pin cushion. This was for Needlecraft Haven's Summer Exchange and now lives with Gill. 

My other finishes are Christmasy. The first is the July stitch for Jo's JCS Stitchalong on Facebook. It's Christmas Bouquet by Patricia Ann Designs. 

My second is also for Jo's JCS Stitchalong, it's the May design; Christmas in my Heart by MTV Designs. I decided to finish this as a small table mat, it's more a coaster size really. I have wanted to do a drawn thread hem for ages but couldn't work out the cornering. This fabric is quite stiff and perfect for turning the hem which was actually quite easy once I had the placement set. I think I'll be doing this finish again.

My other Christmas finishes are two ornaments for the Summer Challenge at Needlecraft Haven. The challenge was the left hand design, I chose to do the other design as it's part of the same large design by Lesley Teare.

We have, as have many, been shocked and upset as the death of The Queen. As a Brownie, then a Guide and a Scouter I have pledged to 'do my duty to the Queen' for nearly 50 years. 

On Friday we went to Cardiff Castle for the 96 gun salute, a moving and very emotional moment. Yesterday we laid flowers at Cardiff City Hall and signed the Book of Condolences. 

I have huge admiration for such an amazing lady who worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to do her duty to us. A duty she carried out with such dignity and grace.

Thank you Ma'am

Topsy Turvy SAL Happy New Year

 

Happy Birthday 
 
It's a whole year since Topsy Turvy SAL began, huge thank you to everyone who has added photos to the albums each month 

The themes will stay the same as before and there will be a new album open on the 20th of each month for sharing. I have made a sub forum for the Galleries.

So September is 'Happy New Year'

Here's the link to September 2021's post with a few New Year freebies 
https://aimetu-clare.blogspot.com/2021/09/topsy-turvy-sal-off-we-go.html

Each month this time round there will be a link to a small purchasable chart. The choice is not sponsored or paid, just something that caught my eye.

September 2022 - Furry Tales Happy New Year by Lucie Heaton

August Temperature SAL and monthly round up

The end of another month and the end of meteorological summer, we certainly had some hot weather as you can see on my cake band. I am a little behind as I have been concentrating on the final few letters for the Alphabet Tree.

I have stitched to the end of week 32, you can see the bright yellows when we had temperatures in the high 30 degrees Celsius. I'm not keen on such heat, my body feels much better at mid 20s.

This month I have done more reading than stitching, mainly because I have been a bit under the weather. Lots of things all causing set backs but I'm feeling better this week so fingers crossed things are looking good. 

One super thing this month was the opportunity to display the Bouquet of Flowers again at church as part of the Flower Festival - you can read about it and see the beautiful displays in my previous blog Ansley Flower Festival 

Next month I have some special stitching to do, I just hope I don't run out of time. 

Ansley Flower Festival

Summer Bank Holiday is traditionally the Flower Festival at my family church. I have in the past taken part with a floral display but it isn't really something I'm very good at so I haven't recently. 

However this year I did take part. Every Christmas I take part in the church's tree Festival decorating my tree with cross stitch ornaments on various themes. My theme for 2020 was a Bouquet of Flowers, a choice I made in January before the world turned upside down. 

During the very worrying and difficult months of 2020 I stitched flowers for my tree ... and so did many of my friends from around the world. There was only a virtual festival in 2020 but the flowers were displayed at the 2021 Christmas Tree Festival. 

My December 2020 blog post is all about how the Bouquet came about with the link to the virtual festival, and my December 2021 blog post is all about the festival back in church.

What has Christmas to do with the Summer Flower Festival? 

Well this year the Bouquet of Flowers is on display as part of the church's beautiful flower display. The theme for the 58th Flower Festival is 'Journey' and the gorgeous collection of stitched flowers certainly tells of my journey through recent years.

So many people are involved in the Flower Festival. It isn't just about putting flowers in the church but involves cleaning, making structures, sourcing the flowers and display items, preparing and printing the booklet, being at church to greet visitors, making teas and coffees, and of course clearing everything away afterwards.  The beautiful displays this year are again a tribute to all those who work so hard at St Laurence's Church.

The remainder of my post is photos of the beautiful flowers, each display reflects a journey. They are all so poignant especially the two in the porch; the bicycle is on the left side leading you into church 'one more step'...

... footprints is on the right of the church as you leave showing God is always with us. 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the beautiful displays, maybe you are near and can visit in person but if far away I hope they have given you a smile ... God bless.